“I was told I looked like Magnum PI.” This is what Mike tells me when we meet to do his family portraits for his Justice of the Peace campaign here in Austin. Apparently he was using another picture and was told he needed to get some professional shots taken and was referred to me. Of course when I heard this, we all laughed, but deep inside I could feel the pressure squeeze my tummy as I thought about how I really wanted to deliver him images he and his campaign would be proud to use.

So we met on a Sunday at St Catherine’s church in the Oak Hill area. I was greeted by Mike’s wife, Christine, and their three kids, Mikey, Stephanie, and Andrew. Being winter here in Texas, it was cold. As Christine warmed up the bench they sat on, the kids were amazingly polite and helpful, even though I could tell they’d probably rather be at the dentist or something than take pictures at that time. But everyone was all smiles for dad’s shots and I could feel the love they all shared as a family.

Then the unthinkable happened (at least for me). I realized that the lens I was using the last 30 minutes wasn’t focusing properly. (Argh! Bad photographer for not noticing sooner.) I switch out my lens and shoot furiously for the remaining time, hoping to get as many usable shots for them as possible. When I got home, I edited everything and, with tears in my eyes and sheer embarrassment, sent a note to them saying what had happened and offered to do a re-shoot if there weren’t any images he could use from the first round.

We made plans to meet the following Sunday again. I asked Mike beforehand what I could do to “make-good” with his kids for having to endure yet another photoshoot. He said “Well, they like donuts!” So off to Dunkin Donuts I went. And yes, I do think that helped ease their pain a little as they begged mom to eat them. :)

Mike and Christine were completely compassionate and understanding of the mishap and even had the nerve to offer to pay me more, which of course I just couldn’t accept. In the end, we were able to get some fun additional family shots of them and the kids, which was a blast. His daughter, Stephanie, seemed to really warm up to being photographed. And recently, I was told by Christine that they got her daughter a camera for Christmas and she was modeling for everyone. I love it!

Anyway, tough lesson learned. I’m sure I’ll have many more to come…

Happy New Years world!

XOXO
Rita Q

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Toby and David have 8 kids. Yes, you read that right. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 AND #9 on the way! So when Toby was referred to me by a mutual friend to do their family portraits, I was a wee bit nervous. I mean, how in tarnations was I going to do try to wrangle 8 kids? But like always, I went into the shoot with a spirit of play and just figured, with mom and dad’s help, we’d figure it out and hopefully have some fun.

Toby and I decided to do the shoot at Laguna Gloria (one of my favorite locations, btw – so many fantastic backdrops in one place). When I arrived and we began the introductions, I had a flash back to one of my favorite movies ever, The Sound of Music. I felt like Maria when she saying a prayer for all the Van Trapp kids her first night. (”What was his name again? Oh well, god bless what’s his name.”) Even after 3 times and my husband’s help, I still couldn’t get through them all without forgetting a name. From the laughs and smiles, I figured this was probably not the first time that had happened and one of the kids finally said something like “We’ll help ya out if you forget.” Good kids. Seriously good kids.

Since Toby was looking primarily for me to get a shot for their holiday cards, we tried multiple locations in the gardens to grab the whole family together to do some family poised stuff. But kids get bored of fake smiling (which I can’t blame them, I get bored shooting that too), so we intermingled the session with them just playing together while I fired away. Lifestyle photojournalism… yeah, that’s my passion and yummy cup of tea (earl gray, preferably).

Being a single child myself, I can’t even imagine having that many people around growing up. But even after only an hour with them, I almost envied seeing their closeness, mutual care and tenderness, and unconditional love. Toby and David are exceptional parents and even homeschool each and every one of them. Talk about dedication! Did I mention just how amazing these parents are?

In the end, I think the experience was fun for us all and Toby told me later that she didn’t know she could look so beautiful. We smiled together and I whispered to myself “I did.” I hope to play with them again as they welcome their newest addition soon and thank them all from the bottom of my heart for reminding me what the holidays are truly about: Love and family.

XOXO
Rita Q

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I’ve known Katie for close to two years. In fact, we use to even have an internet radio show together here in Austin! And as long as I’ve known her, she has believed in me. She the person who gives me a swift kick in the booty when I start to have doubts about anything, especially when it comes to being a professional photographer.

So when she asked me to take her 2009 holiday family portraits near her home in Pflugerville, TX I was both honored and, well, nervous. Because if there’s one thing I know and love about Katie is her honesty. And I knew that if she walked away a happy client, I must be doing something right and on the right path.

We met on a weekend right outside her housing community in Pflugerville with her two daughters and husband. “Okay, where do ya want us?” Katie asks. I had already scoped out the lighting, shadows, and possible backdrops, anticipating that very question. I was excited because I had just bought a new lightstand and umbrella to get some nice and soft off-camera fill-in flash. But as luck would have it, my transmitter batteries were stone cold dead. Plan B – on camera flash, like I’ve always done. (Lesson 1 – check ALL your batteries before a shoot, even if you think there’s no way they could be dead.)

Second obstacle: Katie’s youngest daughter, who is usually full of life, decided she was not interested in having me put my camera in her face. After a few minutes of trying to get some shots, I recommended we just let her run around, thinking it would help loosen her up. I fired away shots as she and her older sister ran laps in the lawns, playing chase. Mom also grabbed a stuffed toy and suggested I toss it to her while trying to get the family shot. This I discovered, was a brilliant idea and worked like a charm. (Lesson 2 – invest in some small stuffies to throw at the kiddos.)

In the end, Katie was happy with the images and has since referred me to two of her friends who have also purchased portrait sessions with me. In true Katie form, her only feedback was that I didn’t put my logo on all the pictures I delivered to her. “If I went to Olin-Mills, you know they’d have their name on the pictures. You should too.” I just love her!

This image cracks me up. I wonder how her youngest daughter “really” feels.

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